SNP welcomes record support for small business

Cabinet Secretary John Swinney has announced new figures pulished today showing a record increase in the uptake of the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

Figures published today show a record numbers of businesses are benefitting from the Small Business Bonus Scheme (SBBS).

Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth John Swinney announced the statistics that show a 15 per cent increase in uptake to 85,199 premises when compared to 73,939 in 2009.

Mr Swinney said: "The Scottish Government and its enterprise agencies are working hard to secure new investment to Scotland, accelerate economic growth, and retain Scotland's position as the most supportive environment for business in the UK.

"Our practical actions to support Scotland's business community including maintaining the most generous package of reliefs available anywhere in the UK, worth on average more than £500million per year.

“The SBBS is a vital part of our work to strengthen Scotland's economy and as these statistics show, record numbers across the country are saving money though this scheme.”

SNP MSP Chic Brodie, a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy Committee, also welcomed the figures.Mr Brodie, MSP for South Scotland, said: “The Small Business Bonus Scheme has been one of the undoubted successes of the SNP Government and I am delighted it continues to go from strength to strength.

“The Scottish Government has made a huge effort to help small business during difficult times – not just through this scheme but also through making it much easier for SMEs to bid for public contracts – and simply underlines how much more we could do to help business if we had full economic powers and independence.

“Under the SNP, Scotland now has the most generous rates package of anywhere in the UK, and it is no coincidence the latest figures show private sector employment in Scotland increasing by 55,000 over the year to the second quarter of 2011, and the Scottish labour market in general continues to outperform that of the UK.

“These figures really are good news and I warmly welcome the commitment from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance during his conference speech the Small Business Bonus Scheme would continue under the SNP."